The Citroën Racing Trophy starts at Lyon-Charbonnières

Marked by an intense battle between Quentin Gilbert, Jean-Sébastien Vigion, Stéphane Consani and Mathieu Arzeno, the 2012 Citroën Racing Trophy played its role as a lift by encouraging the winner? Quentin Gilbert? to enter the new Citroën Top Driver, contested as part of WRC3. Renewed this season, the formula retains its fundamentals, with a mixed dirt-asphalt calendar and a high level of competition between Citroën DS3 R3s with strictly identical performances. If he is under 23 years old, the winner will in turn be able to move internationally, since he will be rewarded with the wheel of a DS3 R3 in the first round of the Citroën Top Driver 2014.

The two promotional formulas will begin next weekend with the famous Rally Lyon Charbonnières Rhône. After a long off-season, the entrants are impatient to do battle on the roads of the Monts du Lyonnais and Beaujolais. Renowned for their fast and technical profile, the 200 km of special stages will provide an ideal playground for the eleven DS3 R3s and eight DS3 R1s who will take part in this inaugural round. All the crews will be able to count on the services of a choice opener, since Daniel Elena will drive the Citroën DS3 R1 bearing the number 0!

On the Citroën Racing Trophy side, the name of Cédric Robert on the entry list lays the foundations for the expected level of performance! After racing the 2011 season in a DS3 R3, the Stéphanois makes his return behind the wheel of a vehicle that he knows perfectly. Faced with this reference, Juniors Mathieu Maurage, Kevin Demaerschalk and Vincent Dubert will want to take advantage of the experience accumulated in 2012 to become regular candidates for victory. A defector from the Citroën Racing Trophy Suisse, which he won last year in a C2-R2 MAX, the young Sylvain Michel may need a period of adaptation to the DS3 R3. Accustomed to promotional formulas, Charles Martin will also box in the higher category. Although they are no longer eligible among the Juniors, Emmanuel Gascou and Quentin Giordano nonetheless remain serious contenders for the podium. Regulars of the Citroën Racing Trophy, Julian Carret, Patrice Amate and Fabien Michal will set off for a new season dedicated to pleasure.

The Citroën Racing Trophy Junior lives up to its name, since six of the eight drivers entered are under 23! However, not everyone has the same experience. The most successful is undoubtedly Antoine Massé, who has been on the roads of the French Championship for two years. At a lower level, Loïc Astier has some participations in promotional formulas. From the Coupe de France, Jean-Sébastien Oudot? who studied on an AX GTi N1? and Kevin Salas will have to get used to longer events. Just like that of Mathieu Maurage, Kevin Salas' DS3 is prepared by students from the ?competition mechanics? from the Lycée Henri Laurens (Saint-Vallier). Thanks to the partnership established with National Education and PSA Peugeot Citroën, these students will also be in charge of operating the DS3 R3 of the winner of the Citroën Racing Trophy Junior in 2014! Vincent Mariage or Jordan Berfa, who only obtained his driving license a few days ago, will have everything or almost everything to discover? The field will be completed by Ségolène Couturier, accustomed to promotional formulas, and by Pierrot Partal, who will travel far from Reunion to enjoy the roads of ?Charbo? ! Entered outside the Trophy, two other DS3 R1s will be lined up for the winners of the FFSA Youth Rally team. Eric Camilli and Laurent Laskowski will approach this first round with the desire to learn and progress.